𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐒 | peter parker&michelle jones

chapter 21

"power is not given to you. you have to take it." -beyoncé

Michelle was forced to sit next to Mary Jane in Chemistry. Peter had now been gone for 3 days, the last time she had seen him was on the roof of his apartment building. And she couldn't help it, she was worried about him. Peter was staying with Ned's family and Ned had been texting her updates every once in awhile but it wasn't enough. She knew that he needed time to grieve but it was hard going back to pretty much having no friends.

She had been sitting alone at lunch again and no matter how much she tried to convince herself that she was fine just sitting there reading a book, she missed her idiot friends.

"So, Michelle, has Peter kissed you yet?" Mary Jane's high pitched voice brought Michelle back to reality. Michelle froze and gaped at her.

"Why would Peter kiss me if we aren't even dating," dumbass. She only added the last part in her head.

"Wait seriously? Literally everyone thinks you guys are dating hard core," she was blinking rapidly and there was a smirk on her face as if she was happy that Peter was single. Michelle didn't like that look.

"Well I mean, maybe I'll ask him out, I think he likes me," the words slipped out of Michelle's mouth before she could stop them and all she could do was watch in horror as Mary Jane raised her eyebrows in some sort of disgust.

"You can't ask him out, everyone knows the guy asks the girl, duh." she rolled her eyes and then added, "you would be the type to kiss him before he kisses you, would'nt you? Ew."

Michelle frowned, Mary Jane's words hurt her more than she thought they would. It made her angry too, "well enjoy waiting around for a guy to ask you out, though, you may be waiting for quite awhile," Michelle faked a sad face and stood up grabbing the bathroom pass and leaving the room.

***

Michelle remained upset for the rest of the day. She knew she shouldn't let someone like Mary Jane control her emotions but she couldn't help it. She was glad when school ended.

She got on the subway and found herself getting off not at her own stop, but at Ned's. She let her mind wander as she walked in the direction of Ned's apartment. Would it be so bad if she asked Peter out? What if he said no? But what if he said yes? She always took pride in the fact that she didn't ever hold back, that she stood up for herself and others. Maybe she should just go for it.

And if he said no, well, she would probably move to Arizona so she would never have to deal with that level of embarrassment.

She was almost at Ned's apartment building when she noticed a small flower stand on the side of the road. She looked at the small yellow sunflowers and smiled a bit, thinking about her dad.

"A yellow sunflower for the pretty lady?" the man at the stand asked pulling one out of the vase and holding it out to her.

"No I can't, I dont have any money," it hurt to admit that fact out loud but it was true, every penny she earned went to Drew, all she could afford for herself every day was an apple for lunch.

"No, no!" the man exclaimed, placing the flower in her hands, "for free!" He smiled at her and nodded as she took the flower.

"Thank you so much," she said glancing down at the petals, "I promise I'll find a way to make it up to you."

"No need," the man said giving her another smile and turning around to help another customer. It was people like that that made her have faith in humanity.

She stopped in front of the building and dread started to fill her. What if Peter didn't even want to talk to her? She had been okay after a few days but that was different, his aunt hadn't been terrible to him. His aunt was everything to him.

She turned slightly, ready to walk away, what had she been thinking?

"Is that Michelle Jones?" A man spoke behind her and she spun towards the street, mouth opening in shock as she saw none other than Tony Stark in a black audi parked by the curb. "What are you doing holding a flower in front of Ted's apartment building?" She frowned as he got Ned's name wrong. "Wait are you and Ted like a thing?" She wanted so badly to turn and walk away but she forced herself to stand her ground.

"First of all his name is Ned, and second, this flower isn't for him." She realized he would very easily put two and two together when he remembered Peter was the only other person she could be there for. "More importantly, what is Tony Stark doing all the way in Queens?"

"I was just driving around," he said nonchalantly with a small shrug.

"I don't buy it," she said crossing her arms, "You're here to check on Peter aren't you?"

He tried to look confused, "why would I need to check on him, he's just my intern."

She rolled her eyes, "Look, you have to be there for him, you're pretty much the only parental figure he has left." Tony suddenly dropped his sarcastic look as he gazed at her.

"Get in the car for a second please?" he nodded towards the passenger seat and against all of Michelle's better judgment, she opened the door and got in.

"Just go for it," Tony deadpanned and Michelle frowned.

"Go for what?"

"Ask him out, hell, kiss him even, he needs you right now more than he needs Ned, you know what he's going through, more than almost anyone." Tony sighed and he suddenly looked very tired, "I don't know what I would ever do without Pepper, she keeps me going, keeps me grounded even when things are crazy. You can be that person to Peter."

She never thought she would be having this conversation with Tony Stark but it wasn't like she could talk to her own parents.

"But isn't it wrong for a girl to make the first move?" She said quietly, ashamed that she was thinking of what Mary Jane had said.

Tony scoffed, "Hell no! Kid, if you wait on Peter to make a move you're going to be waiting on him for a long time. The kid overthinks everything, especially things that are very important to him. Now go in there and give him that stupid flower."

Michelle laughed, "maybe you should become an inspirational speaker one day." she opened the door of the car.

"Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, motivational speaker." Tony laughed, "I like it." She smiled again and got out of the car giving him a small wave as he drove off.

She took a deep breath and pushed the doors to Ned's building open, she never thought she would think it, but it was time to make Tony Stark proud.

can you guys guess whats coming next chapter?? ALSO im so sorry i haven't update this book in like,, a month?? but ive been super super busy and haven't had time to sit down and write. but i hope you enjoyed this chapter!! dont forget to COMMENT and VOTE!! love you all ♡